US Department of Energy

Solar energy powered microturbine

The U.S. Department of Energy and Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation Energy Executive Committee have selected a product development effort by Capstone Turbine and Israel's HelioFocus Ltd.

Solarmer achieves 7.9% NREL certified plastic solar cell efficiency

Solarmer Energy, Inc. employees are in high spirits after receiving news of their latest NREL certified plastic solar panel efficiency of 7.9%. Several accomplishments of this magnitude have made 2009 a great year for Solarmer including achievements in manufacturing, plastic solar cell and module efficiency, and awards. This achievement also holds very special meaning to the founders of the company, dating back to before the company started.

Lead free piezoelectrics

A lead-free alternative to the current crop of piezoelectric materials has been identified by researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California, Berkeley.

U.S. government funds DuPont OLED innovation

DuPont has received a $2.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for a two-year project to develop a solid-state lighting source using low-cost organic light-emitting diode (OLED) solution-processing manufacturing techniques.

Energy Harvesting & Storage and RTLS & WSN conference summary (2)

The second day of the hugely successful IDTechEx conferences in Denver started with a focus on photovoltaics, which has the biggest market share in energy harvesting technology today.

ITN Energy Systems awarded $4.9 million ARPA-E grant

ITN Energy Systems (ITNES), a clean energy and technology incubator, announced that it has been awarded $4.9 million as part of the Department of Energy ARPA-E grant program.

How to improve lithium traction batteries

Dependence on increasingly troublesome oil supplies and rapid degradation of the environment provide every reason why electric cars, whether hybrid or pure electric, should now be adopted rapidly.

End User Requirements Aired at Inaugural Energy Harvesting Event

Next week more than 300 attendees will converge in Denver at two co-located events: Energy Harvesting & Storage and Wireless Sensor Networks & RTLS. These events bring together the whole ecosystem from adopters of the technology to those making wireless sensors, ultra low power electronics, energy harvesting and energy storage devices.

Ascent Solar's 14% cell efficiency milestone in commercial production

Ascent Solar achieves 14% cell efficiency milestone in commercial production.

University working to improve alternative energy

Michigan State University's College of Engineering is working to improve the world's alternative energy future thanks to three grants totalling $141.5 million.

Organic Photovoltaics Industry to convene in Boston October 15-16

Organic Photovoltaics Industry to convene in Boston October 15-16.

Sunovia researchers shatter world record

Sunovia researchers shatter world record open circuit Voltage (Voc) for cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin film solar cells by over 45%, dramatically raising the theoretical potential efficiency of CdTe thin film solar cells.

Putting a strain on nanowires could yield colossal results

Structural irregularities in correlated electron materials - a phenomenon known as "phase inhomogeneity" - could be engineered at the sub-micron scale to achieve such desired properties as colossal magnetoresistance

Low cost materials for solar cells

Wadia's goal is to make solar energy affordable and accessible to everyone on the planet, especially to the 1.2 billion people now living without electricity. To reach this goal, he and colleagues are developing photovoltaic solar cells from naturally occurring, earth-abundant materials such as iron sulfide and copper sulfide.

New graphene-based nano-material designed with magnetic properties

An international team of researchers has designed a new graphite-based, magnetic nano-material that acts as a semiconductor and could help material scientists create the next generation of electronic devices like microchips.

Global Solar Energy's CIGS production achieves 15.45% efficiency

Global Solar Energy, Inc., the premier manufacturer of Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide (CIGS) thin film solar products, today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the nation's primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development, confirmed 15.45 percent total area efficiency for Global Solar's production level CIGS material.

Nanosolar finally reveals more

The photovoltaic and printed electronics industry has been watching Nanosolar for years. Now, the company has made a series of new announcements.

ReVolt Technology applies for $30 million government research grant

ReVolt Technology applies for $30 million in government research grants accelerating development of innovative zinc-air batteries for vehicles and renewable energy storage.

Innovalight achieves record efficiency silicon ink solar cell

Innovalight has demonstrated a record 18 percent conversion efficiency with silicon-ink processed solar cells.